Stoned and Unemployed

My husband was downsized in October. If you haven't heard, the employment front is not a positive outlook these days. Since there are hundreds (literally) applying for the same job, the employers have raised the bar on expectations and credentials. Being able to cherry pick every candidate that is chosen to actually come in through the door for an interview has left many frustrated and dependent on unemployment benefits.

Families, like ours, are struggling across America. Since I currently stay home with the children and head my daughter's treatment for a diagnosis of autism, we have been left without insurance. When Cobra was offered to us it seemed unreasonable, yet alone unattainable when we were going to be surviving on unemployment. Frankly, we hadn't used medical services for ourselves in the past 15 years, so we were not concerned much. We would continue taking care of ourselves as we have and hold out until he found another J-O-B that would offer benefits.... but of course Murphy's Law must rear its ugly head in desperate times...

Eleven days ago I was walking through the house when I suddenly had a sharp pain in my back. I initially thought that it must be a tight muscle from laying on the couch for the past two days with a head-cold.... until I ended up rolling on the bed with pain as intense as back labor pains!! When the words, "Call an ambulance!" flew from my mouth the instant expression on my husband's face said it all. Certainly, if I was asking for medical intervention it must be serious... then I saw the wheels turn and he started to pace, "We have no insurance.... F@#K!!"

...Yes, hundreds of thousands invested into the health care system and we were left facing a crisis with nothing!

As soon as the paramedic saw me, he uttered the dreaded words, "Kidney stones." Being the overachiever that I am, my body tried to rid 3 stones at once with a 6 millimeter one heading the way causing a blockage in my ureter. The CAT scan uncovered that I had another 5 stones in the kidney ranging from 2-8 millimeters.

Two days later I was in surgery, but not after we had to fork up a $5oo deposit to secure our slot on the schedule, "This is the generous self-pay option we offer." Generous for who? Certainly the Hippocratic Oath did not mean much in the private sector. (Did you know that most medical schools do not even require this oath?) Not seeing any other option we paid the money to have the urologist put in a stent to push the stone back into the kidney and to open the kidney and bladder to allow the urine to flow without obstruction.

Several days later the Kidney Stone Center called to pre-register me for Ultrasonic Lithotripsy; the use of high frequency sound waves to pulverize the stones. Of course we had to tell them we didn't have insurance. The pause on the phone followed by the statement, "Oh, you're a self pay... you need to talk with Verina," created a cringe in me. Why was I so embarrassed??? It wasn't like we eagerly volunteered to have my husband downsized in the middle of a suppression nor did we sign up for me to stay home because of the elephant in America's front room called Autism.

The financial advisor reassured me we didn't need the whole $7170 up front.... but, that isn't what was bothering me. It was the thought of accuring another debt and feeling responsible for this financial burden my family was facing. I felt so incredibly guilty... didn't I take care of myself good enough? I had this incredible sense of blame about these darn stones in my kidney...

I still have 2 days to go until the lithotripsy and will have to keep the stent in for an undetermined amount of time to prevent obstruction. Honestly, the various medications that I have been on frighten me more than any of the procedures. Having had a clean system for 15 years, I am sure my body is freaking out about the differing chemicals surging through me. So, I guess I will be doing that liver and/or body cleanse I have been putting off sooner than later.

Of course, I have researched kidney stones, natural cures and the like. The obvious finding is that I should be drinking, yet, even more water than I do. Mineralized water should be drank moderately as it contains calcium. Cranberry juice is another fluid that will help clean out the kidneys.

Some of the recommendations are steps we have already taken to improve our health; reduce sugar, soda, caffeine, alcohol, and refined foods. It is also recommended that you avoid animal byproducts, dairy, cheese and oxalate containing foods (beets, spinach, nuts, black tea, chocolate, beans, and strawberries). Oxlalate foods will be hard for me to eliminate as I love all of the items on the list!

Alternative health options always improve the function of the body, which might be why my body decided to attempt to excrete these stones in the first place. Accupuncture, chiropractic, reflexology, massage, reiki and meditation are all modalities that have reported beneficial health benefits.

For now, I have reduced the meds down to the smallest amount I can tolerate and still have the pain manageable, the children are pretty calm considering they are completely out of their routine and my husband is still holding strong even though I am sure he is on the brink of exhaustion. However, I presume this, too, will pass (no pun intended).

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Learn to Deal With Stress Naturally

We all experience stress, Right?

Stress can take form in three manners; emotional, physical and chemical. Let’s take a look closer at each of these.

Emotional Stress can consist of fear, regret, anger and is usually associated with a negative feeling. BUT it can also take form when we are having positive experiences too like anticipation of the new baby coming, worry about the new job, or pre-occupation with the wedding. Those are all good times, but can cause stress in our systems.

Physical Stress can occur from a physical trauma like a fall, an auto accident, or surgery. BUT this stress also can come from positive experiences like child birth, hang gliding, or sex. Again, these are positive experiences that can put tension in our systems.

Chemical Stress is all around us; pharmaceuticals, alcoholic beverages, and the pollution in our air. BUT what about the adrenaline rush, or the chemicals and additives found in the food that nourishes us?

The bottom line is that if you live and breathe you are exposed to stress daily and that stress has to go somewhere. Our brain perceives and processes the stress sending it down the spinal cord. If we overload our system with stress the spinal cord will respond by twisting (like wringing out a wet towel), a twarking (bend), or by becoming ridged; all impeding the flow of communication from the brain to the rest of the body. This is not good.

When this occurs the muscles receive signals from the nervous system causing tension to be stored within them. This tense muscle pulls the vertebra causing a misalignment of the spine. This subluxation causes more disruption on the flow of communication to the rest of the body. When you have stored stress in your nervous system you are going to feel symptoms.

Most people think Chiropractic is the snapping, crunching and popping of these bones back into place. However, Network Chiropractic, an approach addressing the tension and stress in the nervous system by using gentle tapping along the spine allows the body to unwind this tension. This unwinding might bring about a breath, a stretch, or moan all in which are dissipating the stored stress allowing the body to regain its true level of health.

What about your kids, do they have stress? Absolutely! To name a few their stress can result from peer pressure, test anxiety, sport injuries, birth trauma, vaccines exposure, food sensitivities, ear infections, anti-biotics, and sensory sensitivities. All of which contribute to tension stored within their delicate nervous systems. My girls have received Gentle Chiropractic care since birth and have had their health enhanced exponentially.

I encourage you to entertain having a Chiropractor check your nervous system for stress.

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